Alan Rickman: A Life on Stage and Screen

Director and actor Alan Rickman attends the U.K. premiere of "A Little Chaos" on April 13, 2015 in London. 

Rickman was trained at Britain's prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and went on to frequently play the bad guy on stage and screen.

Alan Rickman and Bonnie Bedelia in 1988's "Die Hard." 

Alan Rickman attends the Evening Standard Drama Awards in London in 1993.

British actors Helen Mirren and Alan Rickman perform during a photocall rehearsal for "Anthony and Cleopatra" at the Olivier Theatre in London in 1998.

Laura Linney, left, Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson pose at the world premiere of "'Love Actually"  in New York in 2003. In the film, Rickman played Thompson's husband who is tempted by his new secretary. 

Cast members of "Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban" pose together before the preview at Radio City in New York in 2004. From left are:  director Alfonso Cuaron, producer David Heyman, Robbie Coltrane, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman, and producer Chris Columbus. 

Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman in 2009's "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." Rickman played the Dark Arts teacher Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films.

Alan Rickman signs autographs as he arrives for the North American premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" in New York in 2011. 

Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman arrive on the red carpet for the film "A Little Chaos " at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2014.